49ers' Aiyuk out for season with torn ACL, MCL

The San Francisco 49ers announced Monday that wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk will miss the rest of the 2024 season after tearing his ACL and MCL.

Aiyuk was carted to the locker room during Sunday's loss to the Kansas City Chiefs after taking a hit to his right knee. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said postgame that the team was worried Aiyuk had an ACL injury, and an MRI confirmed it Monday.

The 26-year-old wideout set a career high with 1,342 yards in 2023 en route to earning a second-team All-Pro nod for the first time. He also caught 75 passes for seven touchdowns before signing a four-year, $120-million extension this past offseason. In 2024, he posted 374 yards with no TDs on 25 receptions through seven games.

Aiyuk's injury is the latest blow to a 49ers team that's been battered by significant health issues. Star running back Christian McCaffrey injured his Achilles at training camp and has yet to play. Shanahan announced Monday that McCaffrey could return after the team's bye week on Nov. 10 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Deebo Samuel - who played only four snaps against the Chiefs - was hospitalized Sunday night while dealing with a form of pneumonia. 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings missed the Kansas City contest with a hip injury.

Shanahan also said star tight end George Kittle is considered day-to-day with a foot sprain.

The Niners played the first six games of the campaign without receiver Ricky Pearsall, who was shot during an attempted robbery Aug. 31. The first-round rookie made his NFL debut versus the Chiefs and finished with three catches.